HOW TO PACK A TRIUMPH & OAK MUSIC MASTER HORN:

[Valecnik]

I’ve always been a fan of the Edison Triumph and as a result maybe acquired a few more than I have space for. My good friend Eric seemed to have the space for one so a deal was struck.

It pains me to see those postings of beautiful 100+ year old machines in pieces after shipping and I was determined not to see yet another newly dissatisfied owner posting pictures of a broken bedplate, shattered case or smashed oak music master horn so here’s what I did:

THE WORKS: Removed from the case. The motor was then detached from the bedplate and each put into a separate box , heavily bubble wrapped. Those inner two boxes, the motor beneath, were put into a larger box. The outer walls, bottom and top of the larger box were lined with ¾ inch hard foam insulation. The two boxes then were tight packed with peanuts around, into the larger box.

THE CASE: Wrapped in bubble wrap, packed separately in a box slightly larger than the case and then fit into the outer box. Tight packed, with packing material. The outer walls bottom and top of the larger box again were lined with ¾ inch hard foam insulation. All the small bits & Model O reproducer were packed inside the case.

THE HORN: Double boxing the horn would be problematic because the box would have to be so big so I opted for a somewhat smaller box, of wood again lined with ¾ inch hard foam insulation, foam plumbing pipe insulation around the circumference of the bell and the neck of the horn, then filled the box inside and outside of the horn with packing peanuts. It wasn’t going anywhere.

THE RESULT: About 51 kilos or 112 pounds of Triumph in the three boxes. All arrived without a scratch to the new owner.

[Raphael]

Bruce,

Bravo, you did a great job and I totally agree with your methods. I frequently ship Triumphs, Operas, etc. and they always require three separate boxes as you did. The cost of shipping, especially internationally, is heavily dependent on “dimensional weight” so one must refrain from overdoing the sizes, yet at the same time utilize sufficient packing and methods to ensure safe carriage.

Your experience, as shown here, is proof that it can be done, and collectors should not be afraid to make a purchase because shipping is involved. Just be sure that the seller knows, and cares, how to do it right.

Raphael

[Valecnik]

Bruce,

Bravo, you did a great job and I totally agree with your methods. I frequently ship Triumphs, Operas, etc. and they always require three separate boxes as you did. The cost of shipping, especially internationally, is heavily dependent on “dimensional weight” so one must refrain from overdoing the sizes, yet at the same time utilize sufficient packing and methods to ensure safe carriage.

Your experience, as shown here, is proof that it can be done, and collectors should not be afraid to make a purchase because shipping is involved. Just be sure that the seller knows, and cares, how to do it right.

Raphael

Thank you Raphael. Yes it definitely can be done if the packer knows how to pack and cares about doing it right. As further proof here it is in it's new home. Credit for horn restoration goes to Don Gfel, case, bedplate and decals to Gregg Kline and reproducer to Steve Medved. Oh and transatlantic packing to Prague and eventually Denmark by me. Tape on last box complements of Homeland Security.

[Schlick]

(Your helper looks like he met his task with all the same zestful jolliness as my son when I ask him for help!)
(...And I was the same when my dad asked me for help!!)
-Michael

[Valecnik]

(Your helper looks like he met his task with all the same zestful jolliness as my son when I ask him for help!)
(...And I was the same when my dad asked me for help!!)
-Michael

Yea you should have seen the look on his face when I told him to clean up all the loose packing peanuts just after. Those damned things tend to get just everywhere.